Booth



Feb. 26, 1935. H POTASHNIK 1,992,903

BOOTH Filed April 1, 1952 3' Sheets-Sheet l I i f a ll" I VINVENTORJ. E W /fim/ ATTORNEYF/ Feb. 26, 1935.

H. POTASHNIK 1,992,903

BOOTH Filed April 1 52 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 26, 1935. POTASHNIK 1,992,903

BOOTH Filed April 1, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 26, 1935 1,992,903 noo'rn.

Hyman 'Potashnik, Denver, 0010., assignor to Capitol Store Fixture Company, Denver, Colo.

Application April 1, 1932, Serial No. $02,527

3 Claims,

invention relatesto. improvements in tables; and more particularly to improvements in tables of restaurants and other eating. places.

.It.iscan.object of the invention to provide in association with a table, a partition which divides thetable, so as to afiord privacy to persons sitting at oppos'te sides thereof, and it is another other.

object of the invention toz'provide for the abovestatedpurpose a partition which is movable or removable, so that, if so desired, the table may be used-in the ordinary manner.

Theinvention is of especialuse on tables of private booths found in many restaurants, where seats'are provided at opposite sides of the table. It" frequently occurs. that two parties unknown toeach other, are, compelled to occupy the same boothyin which case they must sit opposite each Such close association of. strangers is oftenlmbarrassing and annoying, and by dividing the, table into" two separated spaces by the use ofjthepresentinvention, thebooth is, so to speak,

sition,

, Figure a is a section taken onv the line 33 of Pigm'ey4 is a fragmentarysection along the lineHofFigux-e 1,

Figure is a perspective 'view'ofa booth; show= ing a'modifled form of theinvention,

. Figure 6'is a partially sectional face view of a 5 partition of the form illustrated in Figure 5,

Figure 7 represents a partially brokenperspective view of a restaurant booth showing another modification of the invention,

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a table top showing still another modifiedform of the invention, and

Figure 9 is a side view'of the partition of the form illustrated in Figure 8, in a partially withposition.

- Referring first to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, the reference numeral 5 designates a booth of the 'type commonly found in restaurants and eating placesin general- Thebooth has as usual side walls 6 abutting against a wall 7 of the room, seats 8 projecting inwardly from the side walls, and a table 9 between the seats. In some instances, the fixed seats shown in the drawings are replaced by movable chairs or benches.

The present invention comprises a partition 18 normally extending lengthwise of the table and dividing the top 12 thereof into two spaces. The partition is sufficiently high to conceal persons sitting on the opposite benches from each others view, but it is preferably lower than the side Walls of the booth, so that it may be easily handled, and so that a waiter at the end of the booth has ready access to the spaces at opposite sides of the partiticn.

It will be apparent that in this manner, the booth is divided into two separate compartments.

The partition is mounted to be lowered into a housing 13 extending lengthwise of the table beneath the top thereof. The top has a slot 14 through which the partition may move to its operative position, and the partition has at its upper edge a strip 15 of greater width, which, when the partition is in. its withdrawn position, as shown in Figure 2, closes the slot, so that the table may be used as an entirety in the ordinary manner.

A grooved rail 16 extending vertically at the endof the table adjoining the wall of the room, guides the partition in its upward movement and holds it firmly in position, in cooperation with a spring-latch 17 applied in an opening at the outer edge of the table top, and adapted to enter an aperture 18 in the lower portion of the partition.

In order to facilitate the upward movement of the partition, sash-springs 19 of conventional construction are'inounted beneath the table top, and flexible straps 20 connected at the bottom of the partition are fastened to Wind upon the'rotary drums of the springs. The springs per so are not a part ofzthe present invention, and they may, if so desired, be replaced by weights as ordinary window-structures.

It, is tobe noted that the partition is easily placed in the position in which it divides the table top, as shown in Figure l, and that, in case it is desired to use the entire table, as for example, when one party of friends occupies the entire booth, the partition is readily withdrawn into its housing beneath the top of the table so that the entire top is cleared and free from obstructions. The movement of the partition may be further facilitated by the use of anti-friction rollers 21 at its vertical edges, which engage with the corresponding end surfaces of the rail, as shown in Figure 3.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 5 and '6, the partition may beremoved inits entirety to be stored, when not in use, in any convenient place, or in a specially provided recess.

Two such recesses have been shown in Figure 5,

' one being beneath the tabletop, as at 22, and one in the side wall of the booth, as at. 23.

The partition is held in place in'a slotted rail which, as' beiore, is erected at the end of the table adjoining the wall of the room, and it'is,

' moreover, provided with downwardly projecting of the recesses.

cleats 24 which engage the edges of the table whenthe partition is in place;

is clear. I When the partition is not inuse, it is bodily re moved from the table and slid-into one-oranother However, the recesses, though convenient, are not an absolute necessity, since the partitions 'may be stored in a place remote from the booth, or, if possible, beneath the seats of the same, in which case, a specially constructed booth-wall or table is'not required.

In the form of the invention illustrated.v in

Figure '7, the partition isfieXible in that it may be folded againstthe end wall of the booth when -posed of sections 25 hinged togethengas at 26, and the entire partition is hinged to the end wall not in use. The partition, to this end, is comof the booth, as at 27. A spring-catch 28.at the end section of the partition, may'enter an aperture 29'in the table top at its end remote from the end wall, to fasten the partition in its operative position. 7

It is to be understood lapsible partition of the type. shown in Figure 7, may be constructed indifferentfways. ample, the sections may slide upon each other instead of folding upon each-other, asin the sists of a curtain 30 made of any suitable flexible material and connected with a spring-roller 31 erected at the end of the table adjoining the end 7 wall of thebooth.

A frame 32 extending over the table, lengthwise of the same, guides the partition, when unwound from the roller, and hooks'33 on the par-' tition, engaging with an end-post 34 of the frame, hold the partition. in its operative position.

'The' flexible partition may again be'mounted in different manners; For example, the spring roller'may be mounted on the horizontal member 35 of the frame extending lengthwise above the table, in" which case the curtain is moved downwardly to its operative position.

Other variations in the form and arrangemen of the partition, too numerous for individual mention, may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, which broadly consists in the provision of a partition, movable or walls, a table in the booth substantiallyparall stantially midway r the SideS fathe itabIQ the booth :into two compartmentsfiea ing a half of the table','means onilthe e .to theside walls and separatedtherefrom of the table, and a deniciuntableipart a half of the table, meanson'theendwall 0 that a folding dr'fcbi- '-booth to position andsuppo'rtlsaid partition, 'nf

For ex-.

sides .of the table, 'andIa demountable ments;the table having'a poclietrfo'r to a non-dividing position-withrelation to he removable, rigid orfflexible','whichi-wh divides the space above a table top, separate sections or -compartments.,f V What I claim and desire to" secure b Let Patent is; H L; i

1. A restaurant booth 'comp i singfan encl having'an' endlw'all and,substantiallyfparallehsid to the side walls-andse'paratedtherefr 0 vide spaces for-persons s'eate'datopp of the table, and ardemountablepart to extending upwardly irom the 1 upper 1 surjfa the table and irom'adjacent an 'end ort to the end wall of,the1booth,"whereby' o thejbooth to position and support said-p and means at theouter end oithe table'fto said partition in place, seating means of the same: and a sidewall ofIthej boot end wall of the booth being' common bo partments; p651 V 2. Aresta'urant boothcoinprisingjan nclo having an end wall.and substantiallyparalle walls, a table in the booth substantial vide spaces for personsseatediatiopp stantially midway or the: sides 'oithef table extending upwardly, from thenpper' surfac the table and from: adj acent, an end, of to the end wall of thefboothjwhereby- I, F the. booth into two conipartments, each 'inclu structive storage of the partitiom wh to] a non-dividing'positi'on' :with lati table. I I r a 3.. A restaurant booth'comprisin having an end wall :and substant 11' side walls a table in the booth substant all allel to the side walls andyseparated theref to provide spaces for personssea'tedfa op osl substanitally midwayiof theqs'ideso e and extending upwardlyfromth uppensu ofthe table and fromad'jacentan' endoithefs to the end wall of the boothi'whereb the booth intojtwo compartments, each a half of the table, seating meansatamd same and a sidewallofthe'-booth,- th'e of the booth being commontoibot structive storage 7 of the partition, wh 

